Modulation of sperm motility

Abstract

Provided are methods of enhancing the fertility of mammalian spermatozoa involving contacting the spermatozoa with adenosine 5′-triphosphate and method of fertilization using spermatozoa treated in this way.

1 . A method of enhancing the motility of a mammalian spermatozoon, the method comprising contacting a spermatozoon from a mammalian subject with extracellular adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP). 
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, prior to the contacting, a plurality of spermatozoa from the mammalian subject are identified as having decreased motility. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mammalian subject is a human subject. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mammalian subject is an equine subject. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contacting comprises culturing the spermatazoon in a physiological medium with the ATP dissolved therein. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contacting is for about 10 minutes to about 120 minutes. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contacting is for about 60 minutes. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of extracellular ATP at the initiation of the contacting is about 100 uM to about 5 mM. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of extracellular ATP at the initiation of the contacting is about 2.5 mM. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contacting is at about 18° C. to about 37° C. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contacting is at about 37° C. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein prior to the contacting, the spermatozoon is substantially separated from seminal plasma. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, after the contacting, the motility of the spermatozoon is assessed. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contacting occurs in a mammalian female reproductive tract. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the mammalian female is a human. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the mammalian female is an equine subject. 
   
   
       17 . A method of fertilizing a mammalian egg, the method comprising contacting a mammalian egg with a mammalian spermatozoon that has undergone the method of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the contacting of the mammalian egg occurs in vitro. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein, after the contacting of the mammalian egg and the contacted egg has been fertilized and become an embryo, the mammalian egg is placed in a mammalian uterus. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the contacting of the mammalian egg occurs in vivo. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the contacting of the mammalian egg occurs in a female reproductive tract. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the mammalian spermatozoon is a human spermatozoon and the mammalian egg is a human egg. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the mammalian spermatozoon is an equine spermatozoon and the mammalian egg is an equine egg. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the spermatozoon is obtained from an asthenozoospermic subject. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the spermatozoon is obtained from an asthenozoospermic subject.